THE ENERGY EFFECT: Building a base

San Angelo builds to welcome oil surge

Patrick Dove/Standard-Times
Enterprising landowners in Big Lake are beginning to lease out space for the influx of oil workers who bring in RVs to use as living space while on the job.

Patrick Dove/Standard-Times
Javier Rodriguez begins to piece together a steel cradle that will be used to hold a fuel or oil pipeline at the Wendland Manufacturing shop in San Angelo. Rodriguez has worked as a welder at the shop for 15 years. Tank and pipe fabrication have surged with in San Angelo.

A surge of oil exploration in West Texas is leading to a lot of movement in and around San Angelo.